Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my pool water cloudy?

• It can be a variety of things. Check to make sure you are running your filter system 8-12 hours a day, everyday. Make sure your water is properly balanced.

Can algae hurt my pool?

• Yes! If left unchecked, algae can grow in free-floating patches or cling to pool walls. Not only can algae clog filters, it eventually can cause pool surface damage and impact swimmers health.

I keep adding chlorine, but when I test my water. There’s no chlorine reading. Why?

• The reason for the absence of the chlorine reading is that your chlorine is tied-up. It is combined with amine groups causing your chlorine to be inactive. This is commonly called chlorine demand. What you need to do is shock or superchlorinate your pool. Shocking your pool will cause the chlorine to free up. Double and triple levels of superchlorinations may be depleted within hours of application. Often the pool water will be sparkling and attractive while this problem is taking place. In some cases, the chlorine stabilizer disperses and cannot be measured.

What causes chlorine demand?

• There are many causes for chlorine demand, and in most cases there is no on cause for a particular chlorine demand, but several combined: algae, fertilizer, contamination, excessive chloramine accumulation, rain, pollution, excessive cover debris rinsed or dumped in pool, source water (sometimes municipal water supplies contain chloramines), organic and other contaminants in source water.

How often should I shock my pool?

• You need to shock your pool at least every two weeks in the summer, depending on the usage and weather.

How often should my filter be backwashed?

• There are different kinds of filters, so there are different needs for each of them. For a sand filter, it can be backwashed once a week. For a DE filter, it can be backwashed once a month or when it is over 10 pounds over the starting pressure of a clean filter.

How often should my filter be cleaned?

• For a DE filter, it should be twice a year. This is not backwashing your filter, this is opening the filter and cleaning each grid carefully. We monitor the filter and clean as needed.

Is a salt water system like swimming in the ocean?

• No. The ocean has about 20,000 PPM (parts per million) of salt in the water, while a saltwater pool has only about 3,000 PPM. At 3,000 PPM, you generally cannot even taste the salt. Any water under 6,000 PPM is still considered fresh water. Your eyes contain about 9,000 PPM.

Why is my pool losing water?

• Your pool will experience normal water loss through the process of evaporation. The rate of evaporation varies throughout the USA, but if you are suspecting greater than normal loss:
  *Closely inspect the swimming pool’s interior shell for cracks and defects. If you identify a structural problem with your swimming pools, we recommend that you request an appointment with one of our skilled service technicians.